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Meat, Classics and bistro fare

Chicken shepherd’s pie with green salad

Chicken shepherd's pie is a gratin of shredded chicken and onions topped with cheesy mashed potatoes, for 4 people. It takes 1 hour and stays easy to make, around €2.20 per person. The key is mashing the potatoes by hand, never in a blender.

A shepherd's pie of shredded chicken and onions, topped with a gratinéed mash, served with a green salad for freshness.

Chicken shepherd’s pie with green salad
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.20
Calories per person
500 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Chicken shepherd's pie is the dish that gets everyone to the table without complaint. Under the golden cheese crust, the shredded chicken with soft onions stays tender, while the mash made with warm milk brings exactly the comfort you want on a cool evening. A green salad on the side cuts through the richness and keeps the plate balanced.

It's the kind of dish to make on a weeknight when you have leftover roast chicken to use up, or on a Sunday if you're cooking the chicken specifically for it. Kids love the soft texture and the melty cheese top, and you can assemble it ahead of time so all that's left to do is slide it into the oven.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Cooked shredded chicken 500 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Potatoes 1.2 kg
  • Onions 2
  • Green salad 1

Dairy

  • Milk 20 cl
  • Butter 60 g
  • Shredded Swiss cheese 60 g

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Wine vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the potatoes, cut them into chunks, and cook them in salted water. 20 min

    A starchy potato variety gives a lighter, fluffier mash.

  2. Soften the sliced onions in a knob of butter, add the shredded chicken, and season with salt and pepper. 12 min

    Let the onions brown slowly, they're what gives the filling its softness.

  3. Mash the potatoes with the warm milk, the remaining butter, and the nutmeg.

    Never blend the mash, it turns gluey.

  4. Spread the chicken in a baking dish, cover with the mash, score the top with a fork, and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

    The scored lines gratin better and look nicer.

  5. Bake at 200°C until the top is golden, and serve with the dressed salad. 20 min

    Finish under the broiler for 2 minutes for a deeper golden crust.

Our tips to get it right

  • Drain the potatoes well after cooking and let them dry for a minute over low heat before mashing, the mash will hold together better.
  • If the chicken seems a little dry, add a spoonful of broth or cream to the pan with the onions to moisten it back up.
  • Assemble the dish ahead of time and keep it in the fridge, then just add a few extra minutes in the oven since it's starting cold.

The variations

  • Swap the chicken for leftover shredded roast beef or turkey, the method stays exactly the same.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with cooked red lentils or pan fried mushrooms with onions.
  • To speed things up for hungry kids, use instant mashed potato flakes and focus on the cheesy top, which is their favorite part anyway.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette
  • A glass of light red wine
  • A few pickles on the side

Storage

This shepherd's pie keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a covered dish. It freezes well once cooled, in individual portions. Reheat it in the oven rather than the microwave so the top crisps back up.

Questions about this dish

Can you make the mash a day ahead?

Yes, prepare the mash and the chicken separately the day before, keep both in the fridge, then assemble and bake when ready to serve. Avoid assembling the full dish too far ahead so the mash doesn't dry out on top.

What kind of leftover chicken works best?

Leftover roast chicken works perfectly, it's actually the ideal way to use it up. You can also poach chicken breasts and shred them if you don't have leftovers on hand.

Can you use a different cheese?

Yes, you can use Swiss cheese, cheddar, or any melting cheese you have on hand. Just avoid very soft cheeses, which release too much oil while baking.

Why shouldn't you blend the mashed potatoes?

Blending potatoes releases too much starch and turns the mash gluey and elastic. Mashing by hand or with a potato masher keeps a light, pleasant texture.

How long does it take to make a chicken shepherd's pie with a green salad?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a chicken shepherd's pie with a green salad?

About 500 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a chicken shepherd's pie with a green salad cost?

About €2.20 per serving, or €8.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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